mazing M

A e It’s Busy Being 3!

Illustrated by Written by
Allison Valentine Julia Cook and
Laura A. Jana, MD
 mazing Me
A It’s Busy Being 3!
In one amazing day a child can show us so much.
Watch for new milestones every day.

Written by
Julia Cook and Laura A. Jana, MD

Illustrated by
Allison Valentine

www.cdc.gov/AmazingMe
 My name is Joey, and I am AMAZING.
I am 3 years old. That means I am one more than 2.

This is MY world…it’s very busy being 3! I’ve got lots of places to go

and people to see. I love my world because I am the star.

Milestone Moment: Joey shows one of a wide range of emotions. 3

 Every day when I wake up, the first thing I do is get dressed.
I can put on my clothes all by myself, and I do an AMAZING job.

“It’s too cold to wear shorts when it’s snowing outside, and you shouldn’t wear
your cowboy boots without socks,” says my mom.

4 Milestone Moment: Joey shows he can do more and more things on his own by dressing himself.
“Yes, I can!”
“I don’t think so…”
“But I’m a STAR!”
“Of course you are…”

“…and I’m your mom.

It’s my job to make sure
you wear the right clothes.
You need to dress warmly
from your head to your toes.”

5
 This is my favorite hat. I love it so much
I never want to take it off. With my hat on, my
mom says I’m AMAZING…with a cherry on top!

My mom and dad tell me that when I grow up,

I can be anything I want to be. I must be
AMAZING because I can do that right now.

I can be a policeman. I can be an astronaut. I can be a teacher.

6 Milestone Moment: Joey points to show others something interesting (age 18-month milestone).
 I can be a doctor.

I can even be the KING!

When I am the King, my friend Bernice can be the Queen!

Milestone Moment: Joey plays make-believe. 7

 Some days, I get to play games with
my friends at preschool.

We like to play superheroes…

and hide-n-seek…

8 Milestone Moment: Joey plays well with two or three children in a group (age 4 milestone).
 When we play duck, duck, goose,
I REALLY love to be first.

“You can’t be first all the time,” says my teacher.

10 Milestone Moment: Joey is getting better at taking turns in games.

 Today, we even got to use safety scissors at school.

12 Milestone Moment: Joey practices using safety scissors (age 4 milestone) at school.
My teacher said I am
AMAZING at cutting.

13
And I can read, too! I am an AMAZING reader.

Milestone Moment: Joey tells a story (age 4 milestone) while pretending to read. 17
 Today was an extra special day.
This afternoon, I got to go see
my doctor for a checkup. Shows
independence
My mom and dad told her about all the things
I can do now that I’m 3. The doctor was happy
with how AMAZING I can be.

Shows concern for

a crying friend

Builds towers
with blocks

19
 Every night when it’s time to go to bed, I get to brush my own teeth.
I am an AMAZING brusher!

“Here, let me do the toothpaste,” says my mom.

22 Milestone Moment: Joey shows independence (age 2 milestone) by trying to brush his own teeth.
 It’s so busy being 3. My day is about done.

“One more book and then it’s time to go to bed,” my dad says to me.

24
 I’d better go to sleep, because I really do love to be AMAZING!

26 Milestone Moment: Joey says words like “I,” “me,” “we,” and “you.”
32
 “I learned a lot from this book! It shows you
the typical things your child does
day-to-day, but reminds you that they
are important signs of development.”
– Mother of 3-year-old, North Carolina
“As a physician, I would welcome this book
as a way to talk about development
at well-child visits.”
– Misty Janssen, MD, Nebraska
“My kids were really excited about this book.
It was a lot of fun reading it to them, and
they wanted to read it again afterward!”
– Mother of 2-year-old and 3-year-old, North Carolina
“Amazing Me highlights important steps
in every 3-year-old’s development.”
– Judy Shaw EdD, MPH, RN, FAAP, Co-Editor,
Bright Futures Guidelines, 3rd Edition

In this story, an amazing kangaroo named Joey shows all of the amazing things
he can do now that he is 3 years old.
Parents, this book will show you what to look for as your child grows and develops.
Ask your child to find the koala bears. Each page with a koala bear also has
a star and milestone at the bottom just for you. See if your 3-year-old child is
able to do some of the same things as Joey.
For more information about child development, go to www.cdc.gov/AmazingMe.
Supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics Bright Futures initiative through a cooperative agreement
with the Health Resources and Services Administration.

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